Chilling warning of climate crisis comes to UEL

A two-and-a-half tonne block of melting ice, with artists from an Australian physical theatre company performing on and above it, is coming to the University of East London’s Docklands campus. The artwork, called Thaw, is part of the Greenwich and Docklands International Festival (GDIF), which is being held in east London from Friday 23 August to Sunday 8 September.

Thaw was devised in response to Australia’s devastating bushfires of 2019/20 and organisers of the festival say it will bring Londoners face to face with the urgent need for global climate action. The performance by the Legs on the Wall theatre company is sponsored by the University, which is dedicated to tackling the global climate crisis and leading sustainability efforts across its core activities.

The giant block of ice will be suspended on a crane high above the campus, with the aerial performers displaying their acrobatic skills over and on it for eight hours, starting on Saturday 24 August and continuing into Sunday 25 August. As the block melts, the organisers say the event becomes ever more powerful and urgent. Previous performances have taken place in New Zealand and in Australia, where the ice hung near Sydney’s iconic Opera House.

The 17-day festival will see more than 50 free events, including theatre, circus, dance and performance art across Greenwich, Newham and the City of London. This year’s theme is All Change, with the aim of celebrating change-making activism and artistic innovation, while reflecting global and local stories of transformation.

Bradley Hemmings MBE, the festival’s Artistic Director said,

These are difficult times everywhere and the world of outdoor arts is no exception. However, by embracing change, welcoming new partners and reinventing the shape of this year’s festival, I’m very proud that GDIF will continue to bring stunning free and inclusive outdoor arts experiences to audiences across 17 fantastic days.”

Among the other productions taking place is Bodies of Water, a performance piece co-created with local refugee communities on the shore of Thames at Greenwich’s Ahoy! Centre. At Stratford Cross, the French dancer and choreographer Yoann Bourgeois, best known for his work with Harry Styles and Missy Elliott, has devised Touch, which promises gravity-defying trampoline choreography to a Daft Punk soundtrack.

There will also be a two-day programme of family-friendly events at Stratford Park, with the east London landmark transformed into a theatrical playground for children and their relatives. See the GDIF programme for more details. 

The University of East London has a proud record on sustainability, with research priorities that align with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and aim to create sustainable communities, reduce inequality and transform health and sustainable well-being. In collaboration with Siemens, it has reduced its CO2 emissions more than any other modern university in London and has a goal of net zero carbon campuses by 2030.

Find out more about sustainability at UEL and our response to the global climate crisis.